Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

October 27, 2012

UP: To the several hundred Wood County residents who took advantage of the first three days of early voting. Wood County officials said more than 300 people voted during the first two hours of opening on Wednesday. And a thumbs up to the employees of the Wood County Clerk's Office who have been working so hard for the past several weeks making sure all is ready for the election season.

UP: To the winners of the 58th annual Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta A.M. Cookbook judging this past Wednesday. At the tasting and judging event, held at the Williamstown Woman's Club building at Tomlinson Park, 35 recipes from the finalists were judged. The grand-prize winner will be announced in the Nov. 18 issue of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel and Marietta A.M. with the cookbook. Congratulations to the contestants and a big thanks as always to those who submitted recipes for the annual cookbook.

DOWN: To the Wood County Board of Education for approving four two-hour delays to the start of school this year for teacher collaboration. The delays scheduled for Dec. 5, Jan 30, 2013, March 6, 2013, and May 1, 2013, came at the request of teachers to review data and collaborate on classroom initiatives with other teachers. However, in approving these days, the board has shown it is willing to inconvenience the parents and guardians of more than 13,000 students for the convenience of 1,200 teachers to do something that seems they should be able to do without these delays.

DOWN: To the continuing problem of drivers failing to stop while school buses are boarding or discharging students. The problem is so rampant that last year for a week, law enforcement officers were on buses while more followed behind in vehicles to identify and stop drivers who failed to stop. Apparently, it did nothing to discourage this type of behavior.